Let's talk: Nursing Shortage?

Published

Specializes in DOU, Tele, Surgery, ICU.

Nursing Shortage Start in the Classroom

Nursing Shortage: Cal State System

What's going on? I did not know there was a nursing shortage *sarcasm*. I graduated in June 2013 and find it extremely difficult to get a hospital job. Currently, I do work in a surgery center and love it, however, I want to do inpatient. With that said, I have my associate's degree in nursing and am enrolled in an RN-BSN program.

The problem with this propaganda of "Nursing Shortage" does not seem relevant at this time. Most hospitals require 1 year of experience or preferred, BSN preferred. It makes it hard for ADN's to get a job although they are also an RN.

Let me just say, I have heard many times for every new grad position a hospital receives over 500 applicants. Some places receive so many applicants they state they will only consider the first 25 or the for a new grad position the first 100, 200, etc.... You get the point.

There are many nurses out there and California has thousands of new nurses. Hospitals just do not want to train new nurses because it costs $40,000 to train a new nurse. And if you are wondering where I found this information it's just what I hear on other forums.

In this article Nursing Shortage: Cal State System, it states CS San Bernardino accepts 108 a year. The article is making it seem like that is a small amount.

There is a Facebook group called New Grad RN in California which I am part of. There you can find many unemployed nurses looking for a job.

THERE IS NO NURSING SHORTAGE at least in California. There are plenty of community colleges and universities that graduate hundred of nurses a twice a year. Yes twice a year because You have your nurses that graduate in Fall and Spring. It is so hard for new nurses to get a job ADN or BSN, in all honesty harder for ADN's, that colleges are now starting externships post- nursing school when you are an RN to help you gain experience and make you more competitive. Let me name a few schools, College of the Canyons, Saddleback College. There are also programs being created by hospitals such as one in Fairfield, CA that YOU pay for the training. New graduate RN's are willing to work as CNA's if it means it will land them an RN job in the future.

There are plenty of nurses to fill open positions who are smart and worth the training.

I believe it is safer to say that it is a market of supply and demand. There is plenty of supply (nurses) but the demand (jobs) is very competitive.

It is just a shame that people, not in healthcare, believe there is this current "Nursing Shortage."

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yeah the "nursing shortage" thing is BS. And it isn't easier for new grads with BSNs either, as I had to move 200+ miles away in a rural area to get hired in a hospital. I'm a few months short of my "one year of experience" and starting to resume my job search in my hometown and I'm still having a difficult time. Most hospitals aren't doing well financially, causing job cuts and hiring freezes and it seems like a lot of hospitals just do not want to invest money into training new grads anymore.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It really depends on where you are, I'm still not sure I'd call it a shortage but rural areas do have a greater need at this time than big urban centers.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

I don't understand what is so great about working at a hospital? Plenty of people would be happy to trade you for the surgery center, and even go back to school to get their BSN or NP to get away from the hospital and find a non-bedside job. It is a very stressful job and in many places understaffing, micromanagement and mandation are a regular occurence. Sugery center you probably have a good schedule and have off for weekends and holidays. The grass isn't always greener, esp at hospitals! There are many threads on here with vents about all the unhappy and stressed out nurses literally in tears or having nervous breakdowns because of hospital working conditions! Consider yourself lucky that you're not one of them!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.
It really depends on where you are, I'm still not sure I'd call it a shortage but rural areas do have a greater need at this time than big urban centers.

Most likely because the rural areas don't have a dozen colleges and universities pumping out new grads! They are lucky if they have one or two RN programs. I live in an urban area and we have probably a dozen colleges, it is constantly increasing with the migration of all the online and for profit colleges that keep expanding into the market!

The irony is that the hospitals in urban areas face alot of competition even given market consolidation, plus there is a lot of cost pressures from the medicare, medicaid and insurance cutbacks, coupled with uninsured and illegal immigrant patients. The reality is that hospitals in urban areas have been closing and more may close given these cost constraints!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think one big reason a ton of nurses are driving hard at the hospital jobs is for the experience, not for the job per se. A year of med-surg can open a lot of doors.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in DOU, Tele, Surgery, ICU.
I don't understand what is so great about working at a hospital? Plenty of people would be happy to trade you for the surgery center, and even go back to school to get their BSN or NP to get away from the hospital and find a non-bedside job. It is a very stressful job and in many places understaffing, micromanagement and mandation are a regular occurence. Sugery center you probably have a good schedule and have off for weekends and holidays. The grass isn't always greener, esp at hospitals! There are many threads on here with vents about all the unhappy and stressed out nurses literally in tears or having nervous breakdowns because of hospital working conditions! Consider yourself lucky that you're not one of them!

@brandy1017

Yes you are right it is a different environment. I love where I work. However, thinking of long term goals, it is not an ideal setting for career advancement. Most places want acute hospital care experience for advancement.

For instance, if you want to be a teacher, I have read job descriptions where they want you to have 5 years of hospital experience. How can you teach clinicals and you have no experience in it?

I view working in a hospital setting a step for career advancement.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in DOU, Tele, Surgery, ICU.
Yeah the "nursing shortage" thing is BS. And it isn't easier for new grads with BSNs either, as I had to move 200+ miles away in a rural area to get hired in a hospital. I'm a few months short of my "one year of experience" and starting to resume my job search in my hometown and I'm still having a difficult time. Most hospitals aren't doing well financially, causing job cuts and hiring freezes and it seems like a lot of hospitals just do not want to invest money into training new grads anymore.

@FutureResearchRN

It may not be easy for new grads BSN's to get a job. But when an ADN is in competition with BSN's it becomes highly difficult for an ADN. I have been to plenty of job fairs where they tell the ADN's to go get your BSN since hospitals are leaning more towards Magnet Status. There are job posting and new grad programs that say BSN required. Such as City of Hope. Automatically excludes thousands of ADN's.

I know your job is far from home, but congrats on landing the job. I believe you will have better luck to find a job in your hometown with your one year of experience. Good luck.

As far as rural vs. urban. California just seems so overwhelmed with new grad RN's. People from out of state want to come here and apply as well, making it more competitive. Overall, what I meant by my post is there is NO NURSING SHORTAGE in California as far as other states I'm not quite sure.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

You know what the biggest shame is?

Why some of the new RN"s who get a job are not always the right ones-there are a fair amount of sub-par RN's out there because they interview better than others!

Schools need to slow down the amount of students they are training-but it is all about the $$$$$$

Up Vote Up Vote ×

There is not a shortage of unskilled, inexperienced, unspecialized nurses.

There is however a grievous shortage of skilled, experienced, specialists. My specialty is in Infusion Therapy and Vascular Access and all three of my employers can never find enough nurses to fill the positions simply because we cannot find anyone qualified. All we get are new grad applications or those looking for a change in specialty.

My specialties are not the only fields lacking qualified individuals, look at how many listings for the ED and OR you see!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You know what the biggest shame is?

Why some of the new RN"s who get a job are not always the right ones-there are a fair amount of sub-par RN's out there because they interview better than others!

Schools need to slow down the amount of students they are training-but it is all about the $$$$$$

ITS ALL THE SCHOOL'S FAULT! :sarcastic:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
My specialties are not the only fields lacking qualified individuals, look at how many listings for the ED and OR you see!

Same thing with psych. My employers are always calling me to see if I can work extra, and I receive recruitment overtures from facilities at least once a month.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion